This summer, air travelers are being asked to be precise when they book a flight.

The federal Transportation Security Administration is slowly launching Secure Flight, an identification program that requires passengers to book tickets using their name exactly as stated on official ID.

“If you go by Liz, but your driver’s license says Elizabeth, use the name as it appears on your government-issued ID,” said Carrie Harmon, TSA public-affairs manager for the Rocky Mountain region.

TSA’s goal is to trim the number of travelers whose names are similar to those on the FBI’s consolidated terrorist watch list and avoid mismatches.

As part of the program, TSA is assuming responsibility for checking passenger names from the airlines.

The Secure Flight program will improve efficiency as travelers pass through airport security screening stations, Harmon said. Boarding passes will not be affected, and they can still be accessed over the Internet.

The Secure Flight program is being phased in gradually.

For now, passengers should not be concerned with small differences between an airline ticket and ID, Harmon said.

In late summer, the next phase of the program will go into effect, which requires including a middle initial or name as it is listed on a passport or driver’s license.

Eventually, airlines also will verify a passenger’s date of birth and gender.

Each airline is working at its own pace to implement the new rules, the TSA said.

At the Colorado Springs Airport, United Airlines plans to implement Secure Flight rules by Aug. 15, according to the airline’s Web site.

American Airlines’ Web site says the airline is targeting fall for the Colorado Springs terminal.

Other airlines serving Colorado Springs have not noted Secure Flight compliance dates on their Web sites.

Secure Flight results from the 9/11 Commission Report, which recommends the Transportation Security Administration take control of list matching from aircraft operators.

There are countless ways to use thyme as an herb, in addition to admiring the blooms. Photo by Courtesy of Leslie Holzmann